Alicia Gossman-Steeves: Take time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice

Friday

May 28, 2010 at 12:01 AMMay 28, 2010 at 10:06 PM

Monday is Memorial Day, and not only am I looking forward to a day off of work, I am also thinking about those who have given their lives for our country.

Alicia Gossman-Steeves

Monday is Memorial Day, and not only am I looking forward to a day off of work, I am also thinking about those who have given their lives for our country.

The other day I was talking to a friend about the recent oil spill in the Gulf. I complained about the government raising the price of oil because of it. "We'll end up paying for the problem," I said indignantly.

It isn't enough that the company messed up and that the Environmental Protection Agency and other government agencies failed to properly enforce safety policies. Now the American people will end up paying for the ghastly mess with higher prices.

We talked about some other issues as well, but came to the same conclusion: Despite its flaws, America is still a great place to live. After all, we live in an affluent society. We are not embroiled in a civil war. We do not have to worry about the government locking us up for complaining about its policies. We also have plenty of food in America and are willing to share it with those who do not have it.

Memorial Day reminds us that our liberties and blessings come at a high price. Men and women who have fought and died on blood-stained battlefields deserve to be remembered. The day also helps us remember the people on active service who are protecting our country. We should thank God for them often.

Sometimes in certain Christian circles, war is looked down upon as an unacceptable choice because of the violence. Unfortunately, however, sometimes the only way to rid the earth of evil is through violence. Violence shouldn't be the first choice, of course, but when all means of reasonable peaceful solutions have been exhausted, what then is left? It's easy to be against war when you are not directly dealing with an oppressive enemy, or when you or those who live near you are not being personally attacked, or when someone else is defending you and your family.

So, I thank those who have made the sacrifice to ensure our freedom. It's Memorial Day, and we remember you.